Where else? By thinking and questioning, and by dialogue with others. It's not only reading, after all.
Otherwise I don't think I fully understood your argument here.
I do agree it's philosophical to ask about philosophy. No doubt about it. — Xtrix
When humanity needs all hands on deck, what is the cloistered man's contribution? — Xtrix
And perhaps that's recreational? I mean it doesn't give you a living wage most of the time, but it sustains you, no? It lets you keep going, it imbues the remainder of life with a significance and impact that it may not have had otherwise. It seems to me, if you've got the temperament, philosophy is very close to meaning of life stuff — fdrake
When humanity needs all hands on deck, what is the cloistered man's contribution?
— Xtrix
He need not have a contribution. — James Riley
Maybe they are humble, unappreciated work horses doing all the heavy lifting with God, while the rest of us try to dance ourselves into a grave of our own making? — James Riley
That was a good read, Xtrix. Thank you. — NOS4A2
Here's another example. While I thank you for the comment, for full disclosure it's worth pointing out that you're also a good illustration of the type of person who I don't simply disagree with, but who is also dangerously ignorant and unwittingly helping humanity race to annihilation -- and that's not an exaggeration. Thus I have quite a hard time controlling my emotions, as you've demonstrated time and again that you're beyond rational discourse, and so leave no recourse but contempt and violence.
what good are you? — Xtrix
And that's the point: we can't know, because they never actually did anything. — Xtrix
But if you look at what they really do, and it doesn't seem all that special, odds are it isn't. — Xtrix
what good are you?
— Xtrix
I suppose that depends on the definition of the word "good." Let's say he kills everyone on the planet. There are are lot of entities that might be better off. Maybe it's not all about "us." — James Riley
That is not the point. The point is, you don't know that what they did. You don't know that maybe the only reason you or any of us are here is because they have been busy with the cosmos, karma, god, whatever, keeping it from killing us. — James Riley
I would not expect an Atlas to play odds, or to daily prove his worth to the likes of us. — James Riley
I don't care to waste time debating that. If you don't share it, that's fine -- no hard feelings. But I operate on the basis of that belief. — Xtrix
I'm not too interested in that line of reasoning. — Xtrix
I'm making that leap of faith. If you're not with me on that fairly basic belief, then there's really no point in going on I'm afraid. — Xtrix
I know you don't seek my counsel, but if that is your belief, you might consider getting out there in the field instead of talking a good game here on a philosophy board. — James Riley
I start from a simple premise of wanting to survive and wanting humanity to survive as well. — Xtrix
If I were with you on that, I wouldn't be here talking. I'd be out in the field. — James Riley
As for the moral character and internal self, I am what I think. Not what I do. I do not do much. I eat, basically, metabolize and empty myself. I don't do much. If I were what I did... have you, those who subscribe to the truth of the title of the thread, done much? I can count on one hand the people I've met socially or professionally who have DONE something. By "Do" I mean something that is worthwhile, unique, and not a copy-cat-do. — god must be atheist
Getting out where? This was the belief (which you left out): — Xtrix
Again, what field? — Xtrix
So like I said, if you truly don't agree with that -- why not go kill yourself? — Xtrix
Getting out where? This was the belief (which you left out):
— Xtrix
Out doing. — James Riley
Maybe I enjoy philosophy. — James Riley
So then you want to go on living for philosophy, in which case you agree that you want to go on living. So we agree.
Whether or not we agree that humanity survives is related: we're part of humanity. So we agree there too.
Easy. — Xtrix
If you contribute nothing to the world except your own satisfaction, even when there are real problems to be solved, what good are you? — Xtrix
Likewise, if you spend all your time reading philosophy books, or contemplating the universe, or in prayer with God, and in other aspects of life (other areas of "doing") you're immature, impolite, cheap, inconsiderate, etc., perhaps that says something as well. — Xtrix
. . . and in society generally. I think, ideally, it should make us better human beings. And if it isn't, then we're exactly like one of those mathematicians who, while perhaps brilliant in that domain, are otherwise not what one would aspire to be like. — Xtrix
In which case I'd recommend anyone run as fast as possible from philosophy. — Xtrix
On the other hand, when I use the plural, where I am deemed to be an amalgamation of all the perceptions of all that perceives me, I must ask: What more can I be than what I show to all the world? If I am hiding something about myself, can I really say that what I am hiding is the real me? If I think that my thoughts somehow make me, secretly, some deeper being but I simply don't show that side of me to the world, then isn't that a form of denial? — James Riley
"Don't listen to what your teachers tell ya, you know. Don't pay attention. Just see what they look like and that's how you'll know what life is really gonna be like." -- Woody Allen — Xtrix
Good isn't something you are, it's something you do — Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel)
I start from a simple premise of wanting to survive and wanting humanity to survive as well.
— Xtrix
So like I said, if you truly don't agree with that -- why not go kill yourself? — Xtrix
Maybe I enjoy philosophy. — James Riley
So then you want to go on living for philosophy, in which case you agree that you want to go on living. So we agree. [...]
Easy. — Xtrix
I'm sorry, but maybe I confused you with someone who said: "Then that's an utter waste of life, if you ask me. This individualist kind of thinking, exemplified in the stories where a person isolates themselves from the rest of humanity, seems to be missing a very important piece of a good life, at least the kind that Aristotle talks about. Completely out of whack." — James Riley
He need not have a contribution. Like the guy on the mountain top with the beard. He doesn't contribute much either. — James Riley
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